The Butt-tis Buuri Scholarship Fund, established in 2022 by Dr. John Kingsley Krugu, has provided financial support to more than 100 students from the Bawku West District in the Upper East Region over the past two years.
The fund, which initially supported first-year tertiary students, is now pivoting its focus to technical and secondary education to meet evolving educational needs.
In an interview with A1 Radio, Dr. Krugu explained that the initiative began by targeting first-year university students because of the significant financial challenges they face when starting higher education.
In its first cycle for the 2023 academic year, the fund supported 50 students, with another 50 receiving assistance for the 2024/2025 academic year.
“The objective then was to help students kickstart university. Many come from homes with little financial support, and once they are able to begin, they often develop the fighting spirit to keep going,” Dr. Krugu said.
With the government’s implementation of a free first-year tertiary education policy, the board of the Butt-tis Buuri Fund has decided to redirect resources to other critical areas.
“That gives us an opportunity to focus more on technical education, which we have not prioritized in the last two years,” Dr. Krugu noted. This year, the fund is also extending support to the secondary level, awarding scholarships to 20 brilliant but needy Junior High School graduates to enable them to attend Senior High School.
Although SHS tuition is free, Dr. Krugu pointed out that students from poor backgrounds still face challenges covering basic costs. “They need essentials, and we are providing that support as well,” he added.
A newly inaugurated board is now steering the fund. Dr. Krugu expressed confidence in its ability to build on the strong foundation laid by the first board and to develop “exciting ideas” to scale up the initiative.
He encouraged students to stay committed to education, describing it as the ultimate equalizer. “Don’t look at your background. Focus on getting educated and connecting with support systems like the Butt-tis Buuri Scholarship Fund,” he urged.
Source: A1Radioonline.com|101.1Mhz|Moses Apiah|Bolgatanga
